frequencyspecific

Frequency-specific is an adjective used to describe properties, effects, or phenomena that apply only to or vary with certain frequencies or frequency bands. A frequency-specific effect occurs when a response is not uniform across the spectrum but peaks or changes at particular frequencies. The term is common across physics, engineering, acoustics, neuroscience, and materials science.

In acoustics, materials exhibit frequency-specific absorption or transmission; porous foams may absorb high frequencies more effectively; resonant cavities show sharp peaks at eigenfrequencies. In electronics, a circuit's gain is frequency-specific, defined by its transfer function; filters, such as low-pass or band-pass devices, pass or reject signals in chosen frequency ranges. In neuroscience, brain activity can be described as frequency-specific, with distinct oscillations (for example, alpha, beta, gamma bands) linked to different cognitive states. In materials science and geophysics, frequency-specific responses can describe how properties like stiffness or wave velocity depend on frequency.

Frequency-specific properties are typically characterized using frequency response measurements, Fourier analysis, or impedance spectroscopy, yielding a transfer function, impedance, or absorption coefficient as a function of frequency. Models may treat material or system responses as functions that are valid within a defined frequency band.

Because real systems often show gradual changes and interactions between frequencies, a property may be approximately frequency-specific over a range rather than strictly restricted to a single frequency. The term is qualitative and context-dependent, and precise description usually requires specifying the relevant bandwidth and measurement conditions.